It was the last day of final examinations at a large college. On the steps of one building, a group of engineering students were discussing the exam that was ahout to begin. On their faces was confidence. This was their last exam before they graduated(毕业)and found jobs.
Some talked of jobs they already had,others of jobs they would get. With four years of college study,they felt ready and able to conquer(征服)the world.
The coming exam,they knew,would be easy. The professor(教授)had said they could bring any books or notes they wanted,but they couldn’t talk to each other during the test.
They walked into the classroom. The professor passed out the papers. The students’ smiles became wide as they saw that there were only five essay-type questions.
Three hours passed and the exam came to an end. Then the professor began to collect the papers. The students no longer looked confident. They seemed worried. No one spoke as the professor faced the class with the papers in her hand.
She looked at all the worried faces in front of her, and then asked,“How many students completed all five questions?”
Not a hand was put up.
‘‘How many of you answered four?” Still no hands.
“Three?Two?”The students moved restlessly in their seats.
“One,then. Certainly somebody finished one.”But the class stayed silent. The professor put down the papers.“That is just what I expected,”she said.
“I just wanted to make sure you realize that even though you have studied engineering for four years, there are still many things about the subject you don’t know. Instead of testing you on what you learned in this class, I’ve given you questions that skilled engineers face in the world outside the classroom. You can’t expect to be an expert(专家)on the day you graduate. You have to learn as you go.”
Then,smiling, she added,“You will all pass this course, but remember that your education has just begun.’’What does the underlined word“restlessly”mean in the passage?
A.confidentIy | B.proudly | C.excitedly | D.nervously |
Why did the professor design the final exam in such a way?
A.To make the students realize that they still had much to learn after graduation. |
B.To find out whether the students could put what they had learned into practice. |
C.To show that she had much more knowledge than her students in engineering. |
D.To examine whether the students learned what they had been taught in her class. |
What can be the best title of the passage?
A.A Playful Joke | B.A Lucky Chance |
C.A Strange Professor | D.A Special Exam |
Every morning, the newspaper chief editor (主编) holds a meeting with the reporters. They discuss the main events of the day. Reporters are then sent to cover (报道) the events.
As soon as the reporters know what to write about, they get down to work. They telephone people and fix a time for a face-to-face interview with them. Sometimes they do telephone interviews. Checking information is very important. They go to the newspaper’s own library to look up any information that they need. This is called “doing one’s homework.”
At the same time, the picture editor decides which photographs will be used for the next day’s paper. All the people who work on a newspaper must be able to work fast. Reporters have to stop working on one story and start working at once on the important new one. They must find out the new information as quickly as possible. Later in the day, everything is put together at the new desk. Reporters return, type their stories into the computer and hand them to the editor.
The chief editor decides which will be the most important story on the front page. Sometimes this will have to be changed if something more important happens late in the day. Other editors read the stories which the reporters have written and make any necessary changes.
Finally, there is no more time left for adding new stories, and the time for printing the newspaper has come. This is done on fast-moving printing machines. The newspapers are then delivered (发送) by truck, plane or rail. Speed is important. People want to buy the latest newspaper; nobody wants to buy yesterday’s.What is the work in a newspaper office like?
A.Interesting and confusing. |
B.Important and patient. |
C.Particular and necessary. |
D.Fast and busy. |
According to the passage, the right order for a reporter’s work is .
a. writing stories
b. doing interviews
c. joining in a discussion
d. doing homework
e. handing stories to the editor
A.c-b-a-d-e | B.c-d-e-a-b |
C.c-b-d-a-e | D.c-a-d-b-e |
The front page contents (内容) are decided by .
A.the importance of the events |
B.how well the stories are written |
C.the knowledge of the chief editor |
D.whether they are the latest |
The best title for the passage is .
A.How a newspaper is produced |
B.How newspapers are delivered |
C.What kind of papers readers like |
D.Whose work is more important |
As a child, I was really afraid of the dark and of getting lost. These fears were very real and caused me some uncomfortable moments.
Maybe it was the strange way things looked and sounded in my own room at night that scared (使惊恐) me so much. There was never complete darkness, but always a streetlight or passing car lights, which made clothes on the back of a chair take on the shape of a wild animal. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the curtains (窗帘) seem to move when there was no wind. A very low sound in the floor would seem a hundred times louder than in the day. My imagination would run wild, and my heart would beat fast. I would lie very still so that the “enemy” would not discover me.
Another of my childhood fears was that I would get lost, especially on the way home from school. Every morning I got on the school bus right near my home. That was no problem. After school, though, when all the buses were lined up along the street, I was afraid that I would get in the wrong one and be taken to some other strange places. On school or family trips to a park or a museum, I wouldn’t let the leaders out of my sight.
Perhaps one of the worst fears of all I had as a child was that of not being liked or accepted by others. Being popular was so important to me then, and the fear of not being liked was a serious one.
One of the processes (过程) about growing up is being able to realize and overcome (克服) our fears. Understanding the things that scared us as children helps us achieve greater success later in life. would scare the writer at night.
A.Streetlight and car lights |
B.Wild animals and enemies |
C.Moving curtains and wind |
D.Strange sights and sounds |
When she went to some other places, she would .
A.walk away without others |
B.take a bus by herself |
C.follow others closely |
D.make sure not to take a wrong bus |
Which of the following statements would be possibly TRUE when she was a child?
A.She thought being popular among people was important. |
B.She was always the leader of the others. |
C.She always got poor grades. |
D.She was not at all liked by others. |
Books for Children
Fleabag and the Ring's End Beth Webb More stories of Fleabag, the talking cat—star of this wonderful set of 3 books. Ages 8—13, 208 pages, paper-back 07459 44116, £3.99 |
The little White House Elizabeth Goudge A fairy tale (童话故事) and winner of the Carnegie Medal. Ages 8—12, 240 pages, paper-back 07459 45783, £4.99 |
My Very First Christmas Book Lois Rock and Alec Ayliffe A big, bright book, which presents the story simply, and delightfully for very young children. Ages 0—3, 12 pages, 200mm×200mm, board 07459 40560, £4.99 |
First Festival: Christmas Lois Rock An all-in-one book to help grown-ups and children prepare their Christmas celebration together. Presents, activities and customs. Ages 5—8, 48 pages, 290mm×250mm, hardback 07459 39074, £8.99 |
Star of Wonder Pat Alexander A wonderful collection of Christmas stories and poems. Full of lively pages to read and enjoy. Ages 7—12, 224 pages, paperback 07459 39323, £4.99 |
The Not-So-Wise Man Alan MacDonald and Andrew Rowland We all know about the 3 Wise Men who traveled to Bethlehem (伯利恒) and discovered the baby Jesus Christ. This is the tale of another one, who always missed the point. Ages 5—9, 32 pages, 270mm×210mm, hardback. 07459 38922, £8.99 |
If you want to make a Christmas plan together with your children, which book do you prefer?
A.Star of Wonder. |
B.The Not-So-Wise Man. |
C.First Festival: Christmas. |
D.My Very First Christmas Book. |
Which number would you dial (拨号) if you want to order a book for your 2-year-old child?
A.07459 40560. | B.07459 38922. |
C.07459 45783. | D.07459 44116. |
If your child wants to read stories of animals, whose book will be your choice?
A.Pat Alexander. | B.Beth Webb. |
C.Lois Rock. | D.Elizabeth Goudge. |
You want to know about my staying in America, right? Well, to tell you the truth, it is really an eye-opening experience here.
In China, I had English classes five times a week since fifth grade. However, I didn’t know how different textbook English could be from everyday English until I came to Hotchkiss School, Conmecticut.
When I first studied English, I was told to say “I am fine” when people say “How are you?” But in the US, I found that people say “I am good” or “I’m tired.”
One day, someone greeted me with “What’s up?” It made me confused (困惑的). I thought for a moment and then smiled because I didn’t know what to say.
Since then, I have discovered more and more differences between Chinese and US cultures.
To my surprise, US girls spend a lot of time in the burning sun to get a tan. However, in China, girls try every possible way to get their skin paler, or “whiter”.
I’m also surprised by how hard-working US students are. In China, schoolwork is almost everything, so we study hard. But here, a “good” student gets good grades, does a lot for the public and plays sports or music.
The kids here are so talented. I am starting to be sorry that I gave up playing the piano at an early age and that I have never thought about sports.According to the writer, textbook English is everyday English.
A.quite different from | B.the same as |
C.more difficult than | D.similar to |
What does the underline word “tan” in the sixth paragraph mean in Chinese?
A.晒黑 | B.晒白 | C.能量 | D.美貌 |
A good US student spends his/her time .
A.only in doing homework |
B.only on sports or music |
C.on studies, sports or music, and public work |
D.on getting good grades |
阅读表达 阅读短文,按要求完成短文后的各项任务。(10分)
Chris is not a traditional explorer(探险者)----he usually works in an office for a large organization. Yet his job can sometimes be just as exciting and dangerous as being an explorer.
Chris works for MSF, an organization also known as Doctors Without Borders (无国界医生). MSF sends trained doctors all over the world to help people after a war or a disaster. Chris is a doctor from France who has travelled to many places to organize programmes that help people.
At the moment, there are over 27,000 trained medical staff taking part in MSF projects and tasks. The organization received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999. All kinds of doctors can volunteer for MSF. They need to be prepared to go almost anywhere in the world and, of course, they should expect difficult conditions. Doctors with experience in tropical(热带的)diseases are especially useful because most of MSF’s work is in Africa. When MSF accepts a doctor for a task, he has to go for at least six months. When doctors have completed a few tasks, they might be sent on an emergency(紧急的) task following a disaster, such as an earthquake.
But why would a doctor leave a comfortable life and a good salary(工资) to join MSF? According to Chris, the experience you get is a great help in your career. Besides, just like the explorers of the past, you need to keep an open mind and learn to mix well with the people you meet. Most importantly, at the end of each task, you have made a real difference to people’s lives.Does Chris work for a large organization?
When does MSF send trained doctors all over the world to help people?
How many medical staff are taking part in MSF projects and tasks?
What kind of doctors are greatly needed in Africa?
According to Chris, why is his work important to other people?